John was a young, fit and active man who was a devoted father to his two young daughters. He was diagnosed in November 2015 after feeling soreness in his chest. He was treated swiftly at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust but unfortunately his cancer was already advanced.

Male breast cancer is very rare compared with female breast cancer – around 350 men are diagnosed each year in the UK.

While undergoing treatment, he took part in several research projects, including the National Male Breast Cancer Study led by the ICR.

The study, funded by the charity Breast Cancer Now, is the biggest of its kind in the world and led by the ICR’s Professor Anthony Swerdlow. The researchers are looking at the genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors that increase breast cancer risk in men.

By volunteering to be a part of the study, John was helping men in the future who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Jo’s fundraising will allow Professor Swerdlow and his colleagues to do additional analysis work to better understand the condition, which is really important to her.

Jo explained: “I want to raise as much money as possible for the ICR’s research so more men can survive this horrible disease. And I hope the research will help answer some of my questions about why John became ill.”

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